St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-14
MINNEHAHA'S
BEAUTIES.
Preparations for the Accommodate Of
G the Helpless Veterans for
the Winter.

less, having no children to care for
them and shelter them from the icy
blasts of cold winter. But these men,
homeless though they may be, are not
friendleSS, for every man in this great
Northwest is a friend, and not mere
pleasant friend, either. This friendship
has been demonstrated not only by
pleasant words, but by deeds, and by
deeds that stand a monument to the
men who saved this nation from the
ruthless hands of those who would have
destroyed it. When the project to erect
soldiers home in Minnesota was first
preached it was not long before nearly
every city in the state wanted it located
there. But the commission, composed
entirely of old veterans, after looking
over the situation most carefully,
decided that Minneapolis was the
proper place to have the home To-
Gated. Acting ON this, and fully appre-
ciating what blessing it would be for
the soldiers, the Godfrey farm. near
Minnehaha falls, was purchased at a
cost of $50, 900, and next year the place
will have buildings second to none in
the country, and the grounds will be
beatified in way that almost surpasses
belief.
But while these buildings were being
erected, where are the old veterans to
stay was a question that was asked
many times day. The commission,
far-seeing and thoughtful, had antici-
pated this, and made preparations to
answer it in a way that was at once
energetic and pleasing. Without vast
ing any time, the old Henry farm, with
its hotel, dance hall and big greenhouse
and adjoining buildings, was rented
until such time as the home should be
completed. The place is now almost
ready, and inside of week the build
ingS will be occupied by old soldiers of
Minnesota. The Henry farm lies
about an eighth of mile west
of the Minnehaha station, OH the
Milwaukee, and is as pretty
a tract of land as there is in the coun-
try. Minnehaha creek passes through
it, and from the house the murmur of
the falls can be heard. The old dance
hall, near the main house, has been fit
ted up nicely, and by Tuesday night
fifty beds will be placed in it, trans
forming the place into comfortable bar
racks. This hall will be used for sleep
ing purposes alone. The dining room
will be in the main building, where the
superintendent, Capt. o. M. Sawyer,
will reside with his wife, handsome,
motherly woman, well fitted to be the
companion of soldier. In this build
ing are the bath rooms, dining room,
card tables and the reading room. The
house has been fixed up until one could
eat from the floor, if such thing were
necessary, with perfect safety. The
laundry is attached, and in there will be
done all the washing. The hospital
stands Just east of the barracks, half
hidden by a small grove. Here are
some ten or twelve rooms, large and
small, all fitted up for the reception of
sick men, and nicely heated by coal
fires. The sun strikes the building
fairly and fills the rooms with a warm,
mellow light. All the buildings are
under charge of Head Cook w. j. Way,
will be done with coal.
This temporary home will be occupied
some time during the present week by
forty old soldiers from all over the state,
that number of applications having
been approved by the home board at
meeting held Wednesday last. Every
preparation has been made for their
comfort, and when they put in an ap-
pearance they will find home that will
be home in every sense of the word.
There are accommodations for 100 in
mates at this temporary home, and I'M
dOubtedly every bed Will nave an Occu-
pant long before the regular home is
completed. Well, the place is a pleas
ant one, and will offer welcome shell
ter to many weary head and aching
heart.
The grounds of the Minnesota Sol
diers' home, known as the Godfrey
farm, consists of fifty-acre tract of
land lying about a quarter of mile
south of Minnehaha falls, bounded by
Minnehaha creek and the Mississippi
river. On the side facing the river are
high bluffs, from which magnificent
view of the surrounding country can be
had. At ones feet lies the Mississippi
river, rolling along on its way to the
sea. At the lower corner of the
grounds the creek empties into the
river, and is there lost to sight. A large
part of the ground is covered with trees,
making, with the river and creek, as
handsome spot as can be found any
where in the Northwest. The drawing
below gives correct idea of the lay of
the land, showing, as it does, the way
in which the fifty acres is bounded. The
motor line station is near the falls, and
is four or five minutes walk from the
grounds. Then there is the Milwaukee
road, so that the place is not isolated by
any means: